$250 million commission and intelligence hub launched following Child Death Review Board report
The Queensland government will set up a new child protection commission to centralize safeguarding functions that have failed to stop the actions of the state’s worst childcare pedophile.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington outlined a major blueprint for the government’s response to a comprehensive 12-month review by the Child Fatality Review Board at a Queensland Media Club event on Tuesday.
Frecklington said the $250 million commission, which will be operational by February, will come alongside what he described as a “special intelligence centre” that will be operational from March 2028.
“The Queensland Safeguarding Commission will support better and more timely sharing between key child protection functions, such as the Blue Card and Reportable Behavior Plan,” Frecklington said.
“The intelligence center will collect and investigate further information held by departments and agencies, which will be analyzed holistically to uncover patterns of concern or abuse.”
He said the government had accepted the “majority” of the review’s recommendations in full or in principle.
In comments included in a press release from Frecklington, chief executive Luke Twyford regretted that the reforms would provide “clear leadership, stronger accountability”.
The panel was tasked with the study following the life sentence given to Ashley Paul Griffith, the state’s worst child-care pedophile whose crimes against 69 children over 20 years were used as a case study.
In its 500-page report published in December, the panel found Griffith could have been caught several times and made 28 recommendations for the Queensland and federal governments to consider.
The six key areas the recommendations focus on include systems for better collecting and acting on early warning signs; preventing people who pose a threat to children from entering the workforce; Improving the response to victim survivors and their families; and increasing employee and community awareness of threats.
Griffith’s appeal of his sentence was rejected by the state Court of Appeals on Friday, clearing the way for him to stand trial on allegations of crimes against more than 20 children.
The Government continues to consider its response to the recently concluded Child Safety Inquiry by the end of next month.
More to come
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Matt Dennien is a reporter for the Brisbane Times covering state politics, parliament and the public sector. He previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
